Chapter 1- The Curse of the Wrong Customer
The small town of Lunaris Hills had two seasons: quiet and quieter.
Its cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses gave the illusion of peace, but anyone who lived there—or especially anyone who ran a magical shop—knew better.
Nami Ferrer, perched on a stool behind the counter of her grandmother’s old herbal shop, frowned at a floating leaf hovering midair
.
“Really, Lulu?” she muttered to the small spirit that often appeared when magic got unruly.
“I don’t have time for you today.”The leaf twirled lazily, like it didn’t care, before settling onto the counter with a soft puff of golden dust.
Nami pinched the bridge of her nose. Her grandmother’s old warnings echoed in her mind: Magic is alive. And it loves drama.
She was very aware of that, especially when the bell above the door jingled.Of course—it was DJ Alvarado.
He strolled in like he owned the place, wearing a grin that made Nami’s teeth itch.
“Well, well,” he said, leaning on the counter, “if it isn’t the crankiest witch in Lunaris Hills.”
“I am not a witch,” Nami snapped. “And you are not welcome here.
”DJ’s grin widened. “Oh, come on. I’m desperate. I need a favor.”
“No.”
“At least hear me out.”
“No.
”He sighed, theatrically dragging a hand down his face. “Fine. But you should know… I’m cursed.
”Nami froze. “…Again?”“It’s not my fault!”
DJ exclaimed. “I was helping Old Man Basil carry his enchanted fishing rod, and it… kind of exploded. Now everything I touch glows.
”He touched a jar of moonflower petals. It radiated neon purple light.
Nami groaned.
“DJ, that’s not a curse. That’s contamination. Stop touching everything!”
He smirked. “Aw, you’re worried about me.”
“I’m worried about my shop,” she snapped.
Before she could pull him away from another shelf, a flash of golden light erupted from DJ’s hand, racing to Nami’s wrist.
She yelped.“Oh no,” she whispered.
“Oh yes,” DJ said weakly.
A golden symbol appeared on both of their wrists, glowing softly like the first light of dawn.
Nami stared at him.
“What did you do?”
“What did you do?” DJ countered, equally panicked.
They tried stepping apart. Their wrists burned. They were yanked together. Face-to-face. Chest-to-chest.
“Ugh, this is so unfair!” Nami shouted.
DJ blinked, his usual grin faltering. “Yeah… this is bad.”
“You… you need to help me undo this!” Nami demanded.
He nodded weakly. “Agreed. But… maybe we’re stuck.”
Nami’s heart skipped a beat—more from panic than anything else.
“Stuck? Stuck how?”
“Like… magically tethered,” DJ said. He scratched the back of his neck.
“We move apart, we snap back. It’s… kind of intimate, actually.
”Nami’s cheeks burned, but she crossed her arms and tried to hide it.
“This is NOT intimate. This is disastrous.
”Their glowing wrists pulsed again, reminding them both that they were literally bound by magic.
DJ leaned closer, voice softer now.
“Well… maybe it’s fate.”
Nami glared, but her lips twitched.
“Fate doesn’t care about inventory damage!”
As the shop lights flickered and the wind outside whispered through the cracks, both of them realized: this curse was only the beginning.
And somehow, magically or not, neither of them could escape the tension building between them.
